JVC GZ-MG21 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

furball69 · 2006-12-23, 04:36 PM

Hmm, bought one of these a couple days ago and I can't say I'm all that impressed with it. Mostly for the fact that Adobe Premiere 6.0 won't accept the video files.

The software is buggy (start bar won't come visible when program is in the fore)

You can jump through a number of hurdles and get the OEM software to convert the footage to DV, but the audio is terrible, and frankly, so is the video.

These conversions take an inordinate amount of time, compared to Premiere's post processing.

If you shoot 16:9 and want that aspect ratio to be carried over when you output 320x240 DIVX, the file will ahve to be reconverted in Premiere which means a loss of quality.

And one of the biggest kickers, for a HDD camera, One would expect that dubbing to a set top DVD recorder would be straight forward... Well it IS, and it ISN'T. Dubbing function works but there is no way to turn off the stupid icons that litter the image. If there is, it is not listed in the manual and I have pressed and explored every function and the icons remain. Having the ability to turn off the icons is about the only thing that would have made me decide to keep the camera, as then, I could shoot, then perform analog capture of the footage to PC and I'd go about my merry way with Premiere and I'd be happy, but not possible with the icons in the image.

Alas, this camera will be returned as soon as I get back home.

furball69 · 2006-12-27, 01:46 AM

As a side note....

I ended up getting $300.00 off what I paid for the camera AND I found out that Adobe Premiere Elements will open the MOD files directly, so I'm going to keep the camera and buy Premiere Elements.

I'm otherwise fairly happy with the video, it's not what you'd get from a 3CCD camera or multi-megapixel HI res or HD unit but it's better than what I had and no tapes.

2006-12-23, 04:36 PM	#1
furball69 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calgary Posts: 146	JVC GZ-MG21 Hmm, bought one of these a couple days ago and I can't say I'm all that impressed with it. Mostly for the fact that Adobe Premiere 6.0 won't accept the video files. The software is buggy (start bar won't come visible when program is in the fore) You can jump through a number of hurdles and get the OEM software to convert the footage to DV, but the audio is terrible, and frankly, so is the video. These conversions take an inordinate amount of time, compared to Premiere's post processing. If you shoot 16:9 and want that aspect ratio to be carried over when you output 320x240 DIVX, the file will ahve to be reconverted in Premiere which means a loss of quality. And one of the biggest kickers, for a HDD camera, One would expect that dubbing to a set top DVD recorder would be straight forward... Well it IS, and it ISN'T. Dubbing function works but there is no way to turn off the stupid icons that litter the image. If there is, it is not listed in the manual and I have pressed and explored every function and the icons remain. Having the ability to turn off the icons is about the only thing that would have made me decide to keep the camera, as then, I could shoot, then perform analog capture of the footage to PC and I'd go about my merry way with Premiere and I'd be happy, but not possible with the icons in the image. Alas, this camera will be returned as soon as I get back home.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2006-12-27, 01:46 AM	#2
furball69 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calgary Posts: 146	As a side note.... I ended up getting $300.00 off what I paid for the camera AND I found out that Adobe Premiere Elements will open the MOD files directly, so I'm going to keep the camera and buy Premiere Elements. I'm otherwise fairly happy with the video, it's not what you'd get from a 3CCD camera or multi-megapixel HI res or HD unit but it's better than what I had and no tapes.